Chapter 96: Pebble Beach

This morning my marathon training required me to run 10 miles - I was very excited that the Spanish Bay and Pebble Beach area had a nice long path that curved along the ocean for me to run. It was a very enjoyable, but foggy, run! After that, The Patricks and I had breakfast and we headed to the Monterey Aquarium where we saw penguins (Joe's favorite), jelly fish, otters (my favorite) and more! Then we went to the fisherman's wharf where we continued to see wildlife - pelicans and sea lions. We enjoyed some lunch overlooking the ocean and then headed to 17-mile drive where we cruised along the coast and stopped for pictures. My favorite stop was at the Lone Cypress Tree. Here are some pictures:

Chapter 95: Silicon Valley & The Big Sur

The meetings in Silicon Valley went well for Joe and his Dad, but now the real vacation begins! This morning we drove from the San Jose area to Highway 1 which curves along the California coast. The sharp turns are perilous but the view is spectacular. As we drove through the Big Sur, there are multiple places along the highway where we pulled over to take pictures and take in the view. We also stopped for lunch at a restaurant that overlooked the ocean. However, it was foggy so visibility was low - it was as though we were in the clouds. Here are some of the highlights:

The fog rolling in.

One of the condors we saw swooping around.

McWay Falls - an 80 ft. waterfall on to the beach.

Chapter 94: Oops...

As I was folding the 25 more ceremony programs that we decided to make, I noticed an error. Joe and I are putting our new address on the back of the program and I had accidentally put the State College zip code rather than the Mount Washington zip code. After banging my head on the wall a few times, I decided to carefully reread the program (I had my mom and dad both double check it) and then I started reprinting and refolding the 125 programs. My mom said she would be nice enough to finish assembling them while I'm in San Francisco.

Chapter 93: Scramble

Tomorrow I am going to Joe's house because we are leaving early on Wednesday morning for San Francisco with his parents. Mr. Patrick has a few meetings to attend on Wednesday and Thursday in Silicon Valley and then we are going to enjoy the rest of the labor day weekend in that part of California. On Friday and Saturday we will be in the Pebble Beach area, on Sunday we are going to go on a wine tour in Napa Valley and then we will be in San Francisco Sunday night and Monday morning before our flight back that afternoon.

I'm looking forward to the trip, it should be a lot of fun! However, I have been scrambling around yesterday and today to finish up as many little things for the wedding as possible before I leave. When I get back there will be less than 2 weeks to the wedding and we will really need to have just about everything ready!

Chapter 92: House Closing

Yesterday Joe went to Pittsburgh for the closing of our new house! It's very exciting and here are a couple of pictures he took:

Chapter 91: The Patrick Shuffle

Here is a nice video that Suzi's friend, Jon, made for
Joe and I as a wedding shower gift. I got a big kick out
of it, as did Joe and my family, so I thought it would
be good to share. Crank up your music and enjoy!

P.S. I think you can look forward to seeing something
similar at the wedding.

Chapter 90: Art & Crafts

Joe came to visit today - and was happy to find out that it is Arts and Crafts day at the Anson household! We have been busy printing, folding and assembling the wedding ceremony programs. It's nice to have some extra help; it goes a lot faster that way! But luckily for Joe, it hasn't been all work and no play. We ran out to Subway to have lunch - Eat Fresh! We have been playing Subway Scrabble and collecting as many tiles as possible in hopes of winning a hybrid car, a trip, cash or any of the multiple prizes. If you happen to have any spare scrabble pieces, please let us know!

Chapter 89: Fitting

We arrived early for the fitting yesterday and we were happy that the seamstress was able to take us then. It was great to see the dress again after so many months and it was especially exciting to think that this time I was trying on MY dress. It fit well and the only alterations needed were the side seams and then the loops for the bustle. The only bad part of our time at Pat Catan's was that I won't be going in for my second fitting until September 5th which is only a week away from the wedding. It must fit perfectly then...

Also, Joe went to the house yesterday for an appointment with comcast to set up the "triple play" which is cable, internet and a phone line. Here is a picture that he took of the master bath - we now have a mirror and lights!

Chapter 88: My Dress!

Pat Catan's called me on Friday to let me know my dress was finally in! We scheduled my fitting appointment for today at 3:00 - I was glad we could do it on a Monday so that my mom would be home and be able to come with me to the fitting. Otherwise, today I hope to continue working on other small wedding details (it seems like there is a never ending list of small things to do).

Chapter 87: Shower & Bachelorette...

It was a big weekend! My sister Katie drove in from Chicago and with the help of my mom, younger sister Megan, and Dad hosted my wedding shower. It was a lovely afternoon - the weather was great and a lot of people were able to come. It was nice that my aunts and grandma traveled 4 hours to be there as well as Joe's mom and his family came about an hour from the New Castle area as well.

Everything was very well planned - after everyone had arrived, Katie had organized an ice breaker for people to get to know one another. Everyone split up into 4 groups and had to use toilet paper, yarn, tissue paper and tape to make a wedding dress - my grandma and I were the judges. It seemed like it went over well with all. After that we ate some lunch and as we finished, Katie handed out note cards and the guests quizzed me on how well I knew Joe - I think I did okay. Joe was here to enjoy these festivities as well. Lastly, Joe and I opened many gifts which were all wonderful! It's so exciting to get new things, especially when we can put these new things in our new house soon!

As things wrapped up, Katie told me I needed to get ready because they were taking me "somewhere." I was nervous since I generally like to know what's going on and I had no idea what they had in store for me. After saying goodbye, my bridesmaids (Katie, Megan, Suzi, Dorann and Vas) got into cars and headed "somewhere." That somewhere ended up being the Embassy Suites in downtown Cleveland. They had organized a masseuse to come to give us all some spa treatment (facials, massages and pedicures). It was very relaxing. Afterwards, we went to dinner at a wine bar in Ohio City and then went to another bar on West 6th Street.

It was a great weekend and the only downside is that it went so fast!

Chapter 86: Kicked Out!

I headed back to Joe's house tomorrow because I have been kicked out of my house! My sister, Katie, is coming home from Chicago tomorrow and she, with my mom's help, are going to prepare for the wedding shower they have organized. I'm excited to see Katie on Saturday and I'm looking forward to seeing what they have planned.

It is convenient that I was asked to leave tomorrow because Joe and I intend to take another trip to the house in Pittsburgh. Our dryer was delivered today - so we can see that! Also, we're hoping to see a bit more progress! We'll take pictures to post.

Chapter 85: Hair & Make Up

I arrived early for my 1:00 appointment at Sognatore Salon. Luckily, the technician was ready for me and we got an early start to putting rollers in my hair. We had been going back and forth between having my hair up higher in a bun or wearing in a low ponytail. We decided to put it up higher since I usually wear my hair in a topnotcher and I could be more comfortable with that look. After the rollers, she teased it (which means it is one massive tangle now) and then started adding the seemingly millions of bobby pins to hold my hair up. We were both happy with the final product.

Then I was sent over to make up. Today was the most make up I have ever worn; I don't really do much with my own make up usually (just mascara, cover up when needed, and eye shadow on a special occasion). After the make up artist was finished I, again, was happy with how I looked (although very different than my usual look).

I drove the 2 hours home from Pittsburgh to Solon to show my mom the makeover. She like the make up but made me think again about the option of wearing my hair in a low ponytail. We think it could look good either way, it just depends on the 'look' I want to go for. So, the hair is still undecided for now...

Chapter 84: Hairdo!

I will be going to get my trial run of my hair and make up done tomorrow. I'm pretty sure on how I will get my hair done, but I'm always questioning my decisions on whether it is the right one. Make up should be pretty easy since I don't usually wear a lot of make up and won't want to on my wedding day either.

Chapter 83: Wedding Worry

My mother and I have been getting nervous because my wedding dress is not in yet. Pat Catan's, the store where we bought the dress, said it was supposed to be done and in by mid-July. It is getting closer to mid-August and closer to the wedding which make us understandably anxious. We have called a few times and this last call they said it was shipped and it should be in any day...within the next week or so. We're hoping this means it will be in very soon so that I can schedule a fitting to see if it needs to be altered at all.

Chapter 82: New House Pictures

The appliances are there! The microwave still needs to be set up and the gas for the stove needs to be checked. After that, they need to put the knobs on the cabinet drawers and the kitchen should be ready!
Today the guys from ProSource came and laid the tile for the front porch. By the time we left they were just finishing up grouting it and were basically done. We like that kind of quick work.
The new garage door was put in as well today!
The mirror closet doors were put in since we had last been there as well. They made the room look a lot bigger! Joe was tired and testing out the bed.

Chapter 81: Forecasting

I feel as though my mom and I have made a lot of progress on the wedding plans. We have been completing a lot of the small details. However, I have a premonition that about two weeks before the wedding that I am going to feel like there is still a ton to get done. Hopefully we can get enough done beforehand so that I can avoid any stress (or most of it).

Joe and I are going to visit the house on Thursday again (our washer and dryer is being delivered). The small finishing details of the house are taking a long time to complete but they say they should be done inside by the end of this week.

Chapter 80: Wedding Preparation

Everyday when I hear the rumble of the mail truck coming up our street, I get very excited and go look out the window. Once he passes, I run to the mailbox to see which responses we have received that day. We have received about half of the responses so far and are glad that most everyone can come!

Yesterday, my mom decided that we needed to take care of the large mound of wedding "stuff" we had accumulated in the dining room. We have vases for the cocktail tables, votives and other small decorative items which we carefully wrapped in news paper and placed in boxes. We labeled each box with the number of items within and what they are to be used for. They are now stacked in the basement and ready for the wedding day!

Today, I have strapped on my wedding shoes in order to break them in as I walk around the house. I'm hoping that if I continue to wear them frequently that I will avoid blisters and be at least somewhat comfortable standing in them at the wedding.